Criminology and Criminal Justice Degrees

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice prepares graduates
for some of today's most fascinating and rewarding careers, professions
that serve the community and the society-at-large in law enforcement,
the courts and corrections. Students gain a comprehensive understanding
of the nature of crime and of the criminal justice system through an
interdisciplinary course of study and hands-on learning opportunities,
such as participating in internships, conducting mock trials, observing
actual trials and traveling abroad to see first-hand how other systems
operate.

Programs

Bachelor of Science in Criminology -
Prepares students for graduate school or an entry-level position in the
criminal justice field. A law and justice minor is jointly administered
by the government and criminology departments and offers a diverse
course selection in business, criminal, constitutional, comparative and
international law. The major is interdisciplinary in that faculty have
been trained in numerous fields and are thus able to offer students a
diversity of courses.

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science-
Provides a solid foundation in basic science and the criminal justice
system. Students learn to use the principles of chemistry, biology,
physics and mathematics with social science theory and law to help solve
crimes. Graduates typically are employed in local, state, and federal
crime laboratories or law enforcement agencies, such as the FDA, EPA,
and OSHA. Forensic chemistry is an option for pre-professional majors
and for those interested in pursuing master's or doctoral degrees.
Students successfully completing the program will also be awarded a
minor in criminal investigation.

Criminal Investigation Minor- The criminal investigation minor is designed to provide students with substantive courses of study related to the investigation of criminal activity. The program incorporates the study of criminological theory with scientific methods and behavioral concepts necessary for the successful apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders. Students develop critical thinking skills and analytical abilities that will be invaluable for those pursuing law or graduate school, as well as those seeking careers as forensic scientists or criminal investigators.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Minor - The law and justice minor is administered jointly by the Department of Government and World Affairs and the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and provides students with the unique opportunity to complete a substantive study of law at the undergraduate level. This interdisciplinary program offers the best of a theory-based yet practical education. Students are provided with a substantive exposure to the content of the law while being encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.

Pre-Law

Pre-Law Professional Program - The University has not established a specialized pre-law major, but
encourages prospective law students to pursue a course of study that
includes a wide variety of liberal arts classes. Students should also
consider a major in criminology, history, or government and world
affairs, or a minor in law and justice. The B.A. in Government and World
Affairs also offers a concentration in law and government.

experiential
learning

The department has a long tradition of experiential
learning. Examples include the course Trial Advocacy (mock trial),
requiring students to prepare and argue a case for trial, and Appellate
Advocacy (moot court), a simulated court hearing in which students
attempt to persuade a panel of judges that a trial reached a "correct"
or "incorrect" decision.

In
Introduction to Victimology, students develop and deliver a creative
presentation on date rape, child abuse, dating violence or bullying to
children held in the Hillsborough County Juvenile Detention Center.
Students can also conduct research with faculty, which may lead to
conference presentations and journal articles.

Students also have
opportunities for comparative summer studies in England, France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic,
Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Scotland. These trips allow students to
compare the enforcement of laws and the functioning of the criminal
justice systems not just in a textbook, but in the countries themselves.

internships

Additionally,
criminology students can begin a criminal justice career before
graduation through internships in all areas – police work, the courts,
customs, corrections, juvenile facilities, enforcement, investigation,
safety and security, public defender’s office, and various other offices
and departments – and on all levels of government. Majors can also take
part in an FBI mentoring program.

Post-Graduate

Criminology and criminal
justice graduates have been accepted to the best graduate and law
schools in the country. Other students who choose to enter the work
force have found employment in a variety of criminal justice agencies,
such as U.S. Customs, Associated Marine Institutes (alternative juvenile
facility), Capital Collateral (Florida’s Death Penalty Appellate
Agency), Bay Area Youth Services, police departments and prisons
throughout the nation.